A sandy defeat

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Defending beach volleyball gold medalists Phil Dalhausser, 32, and Todd Rogers, 38, saw their chance at a repeat disappear Friday (Aug. 3) when they were swept in the Round of 16 by Italians Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo. It was a huge upset for Italy in a sport that has been largely dominated by Brazil and the U.S. since its Olympic inception in 1996.The U.S. still has women's pairs April Ross/Jen Kess and Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh-Jennings, plus men's pair Jake Gibb/Sean Rosenthal competing in the Olympics.-- Andrea Reiher, Zap2it

Defending beach volleyball gold medalists Phil Dalhausser, 32, and Todd Rogers, 38, saw their chance at a repeat disappear Friday (Aug. 3) when they were swept in the Round of 16 by Italians Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo. It was a huge upset for Italy in a sport that has been largely dominated by Brazil and the U.S. since its Olympic inception in 1996.The U.S. still has women's pairs April Ross/Jen Kess and Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh-Jennings, plus men's pair Jake Gibb/Sean Rosenthal competing in the Olympics.-- Andrea Reiher, Zap2it (Getty Images)

Defending beach volleyball gold medalists Phil Dalhausser, 32, and Todd Rogers, 38, saw their chance at a repeat disappear Friday (Aug. 3) when they were swept in the Round of 16 by Italians Paolo Nicolai and Daniele Lupo. It was a huge upset for Italy in a sport that has been largely dominated by Brazil and the U.S. since its Olympic inception in 1996.The U.S. still has women's pairs April Ross/Jen Kess and Misty May-Treanor/Kerri Walsh-Jennings, plus men's pair Jake Gibb/Sean Rosenthal competing in the Olympics.-- Andrea Reiher, Zap2it